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Alma Katsu

lma Katsu was born in Alaska and raised near Concord, Massachusetts. She has a BA in writing from Brandeis University and an MA from the Johns Hopkins Writing Program. She lives with her husband in Virginia.

Genres: Fantasy, Horror, Mystery, Thriller

Series

Taker
   1. The Taker (2011)
   2. The Reckoning (2012)
   The Witch Sisters (2013)
   3. The Descent (2014)

Red Widow
1. Red Widow (2021)
2. Red London (2023)

Novels

   The Hunger (2018)
   The Deep (2020)
   The Fervor (2022)

Novellas and Short Stories

   The Devil's Scribe (2012)
   The Wehrwolf (2022)
   Black Vault (2023)

Alma Katsu recommends

Ghost Station (2024)
S A Barnes
"The ultimate haunted house story in space."

A Better World (2024)
Sarah Langan
"Perfectly constructed social horror with emotional heft. A Rorschach test of all our modern fears anchored by the honest, human, heroic characters at the heart of it. A brilliant piece of writing."

Murder Road (2024)
Simone St James
"There may be a chilling supernatural element at the heart of MURDER ROAD, but it's the unforgettable main characters that will pull you in: damaged survivors who find salvation in each other, beautifully drawn. Once you start reading you won't be able to put it down: I know I couldn't."

Forgotten Sisters (2024)
Cynthia Pelayo
"Aspects of Forgotten Sisters glide past each other like ghosts as Cynthia Pelayo adroitly juggles past and present, reality and the supernatural, in this elegiac gothic novel. You'll be haunted long after you've finished turning the pages."

The Frame-Up (2024)
Gwenda Bond
"Who knew magic and art heists would go together like chocolate and peanut butter? The Frame-Up is a thoroughly delightful whirlwind of a read."

This Wretched Valley (2024)
Jenny Kiefer
"If you love wilderness horror, This Wretched Valley is a must-read. But be forewarned: after reading this chilling debut, you may never want to set foot in the great outdoors again."

The House of Last Resort (2024)
Christopher Golden
"The king of horror thrillers does it again. With this thoroughly modern exorcism story, Golden will make you believe in the existence of true evil."

Where the Dead Wait (2023)
Ally Wilkes
"Beautiful, brilliant writing about good men (and bad) facing the unimaginable. I was swallowed whole by Ally Wilkes' terrifying story of Arctic survival. Dare I say it's better than Dan Simmons' THE TERROR?"

The Pale House Devil (2023)
Richard Kadrey
"A snappy, delicious mix of Lovecraftian horror and pulp noir. In a world where magic reigns and the dead can be reborn, two upright guns-for-hire see that justice prevails and that evil--real evil--always get its due."

The Navigating Fox (2023)
Christopher Rowe
"A trip to Hell you're going to want to take: Christopher Rowe's The Navigating Fox asks the eternal question where do we come from? in a story that is completely charming, philosophical, enlightening, entertaining, and clever as, well, a fox."

Hemlock Island (2023)
Kelley Armstrong
"A tech mogul gifts his ex-wife their perfect vacation home on a remote island. You'd think this is a dream come true--but this is a Kelley Armstrong story! With creepy twists on every page and a unique horror element, it's got an ending you'll never see coming."

Wild Spaces (2023)
S L Coney
"Can a horror story be beautiful? Wild Spaces tells a terrible truth in the most achingly beautiful way."

Fever House (2023)
(Fever House Duology, book 1)
Keith Rosson
"This book is rock and roll, horror, and noir in a blender. . . . A bullet of a wild ride straight to Hell, and mightily entertaining along the way."

Boys in the Valley (2023)
Philip Fracassi
"As poignant as it is chilling, with a fast-paced, unflinching ending, it's the richly drawn characters that make Boys in the Valley a standout."

Sisters of the Lost Nation (2023)
Nick Medina
"Sisters of the Lost Nation weaves Native folklore with truths that we feel in our bones to create a story that is as beautiful as it is sad, as powerful as it is frightening, as familiar as it is otherworldly."

The Haunting of Alejandra (2023)
V Castro
"Sometimes being a woman can be hell. In V. Castro's dark, heroic tale, a woman draws on her familial roots to save herself and her children--by facing down a soul-devouring demon."

First Comes Summer (2023)
Maria Hesselager
"A terrifying tale about the special madness of obsessive love. Masterfully told, with an ending that will leave you speechless."

Jackal (2022)
Erin E Adams
"Real horror surrounds us in plain sight, nestled in the hearts of fiends who hide behind the barest of masks. Erin E. Adams takes you on a breathless ride with Jackal, revealing the courage it takes to stand up to monsters."

The Hollow Kind (2022)
Andy Davidson
"Whether you call it historical horror, folk horror, or southern gothic, Andy Davidson's The Hollow Kind is as beautifully written as it is chilling. The combination of dual timelines with a little-explored piece of America's past truly sets this book apart. Every page reverberates with inescapable dread."

The Flock (2022)
J Todd Scott
"It's all here: doomsday cults, innocents and grifters, unexplainable phenomena. Heartache and regret. A chance at redemption. What sets The Flock above your average thriller is the absolute ring of authenticity from this twenty-plus-year career DEA agent. You got the real deal right here."

Ghost Eaters (2022)
Clay McLeod Chapman
"A terrifying meditation of the horrors of modern life and our collective fixation with death. Clay McLeod Chapman's Ghost Eaters promises to fix what ails you, existentially speaking. But be warned: follow Chapman down this rabbit hole and you will see dead people."

The Devil Takes You Home (2022)
Gabino Iglesias
"Full of violent truths, The Devil Takes You Home is one of the best books I have read in a long time. An incredible, unforgettable read."

The New Neighbor (2022)
Karen Cleveland
"Have you ever wondered if you have what it takes to be a spy? In The New Neighbor, former CIA analyst Karen Cleveland shows you how to find the security threat in lurking in your own backyard. Filled with CIA insights that only an insider would know and every trick in the analyst's toolbox . . . a cunningly constructed puzzle box of a thriller."

The Finalists (2022)
David Bell
"I raced through THE FINALISTS, which is not only a first-rate thriller but an insightful commentary on the challenges facing higher education. THE FINALISTS is proof positive that David Bell is one of the best thriller writers working today."

Ordinary Monsters (2022)
(Talents , book 1)
J M Miro
"From the very first page, you're pulled into a world of hope and fear, dark and light, the known and the unimaginable. A world that is equal parts magic and pain. Readers should prepare themselves: there's nothing ordinary about Ordinary Monsters."

Friend of the Devil (2022)
Stephen Lloyd
"Friend of the Devil is a whip-sharp, fast-paced tribute to slashers, fiendishly delicious in every way. Clever, funny, and blood-splattered..."

Dark Factory (2022)
(Dark Factory)
Kathe Koja
"Visionary. Stunning. A near-future vision of clubbing culture that takes us beyond virtual reality but, at the same time, presents an intimate look at the life of artists. Koja proves once again that she is a master of her craft."

Sundial (2022)
Catriona Ward
"There are two things you must know about Sundial. First, it's a great read, a genius piece of storytelling. But second, this is true horror, the horror of everyday life that we make ourselves blind to, horror that is brutal, truthful, terrifying. Catriona Ward knows horror."

The Violence (2022)
Delilah S Dawson
"A paean to the resilience of women . . . As the characters in this novel fight for their lives in a pandemic-cursed hellscape, The Violence could not be more of-the-moment."

The Savage Kind (2021)
(Nightingale Trilogy, book 1)
John Copenhaver
"Clever girls with dark leanings... powerful DC families hiding dangerous secrets... The Savage Kind is a new take on femme fatales in a dazzling 1940s noir wrapper. Copenhaver will have you guessing till the very last page."

Cackle (2021)
Rachel Harrison
"Cackle delivers a lesson that every woman needs to hear: embrace your inner witch! Sweet, sinister, and 100 percent delightful."

Damascus Station (2021)
(Damascus Station, book 1)
David McCloskey
"For an authentic representation of what it’s like to work in intelligence, look no further than Damascus Station. McCloskey has captured it all: the breathtaking close calls, the hand in glove of tech and ops, the heartbreaking disappointments, the thrill of a hard-won victory."

The Art of Space Travel and Other Stories (2021)
Nina Allan
"Nina Allan is a writer of rare talent. The Art of Space Travel addresses life's biggest questions with such delicacy and tenderness that you won't fear staring into the abyss."

Chasing the Boogeyman (2021)
(Boogeyman, book 1)
Richard Chizmar
"Perfect for fans of true crime, meticulously orchestrated, and clever beyond measure, Chasing the Boogeyman will leave you guessing long after you've read the last page."

Rovers (2021)
Richard Lange
"Reading Rovers was like going on a three-day bender: once I got started, I couldn't stop. Rovers is a bleak, gritty, violent, and mostly tender portrayal of life as an outsider that happens to be about vampires. The writing is equal to the story: achingly beautiful, by turns inspiring and devastating."

The Lost Girls (2021)
Jessica Chiarella
"The Lost Girls is an up-to-the-minute modern thriller with a true-crime feel and a gritty protagonist unafraid to spit in justice's eye."

The Book of Accidents (2021)
Chuck Wendig
"Only Chuck Wendig can blend horror, fantasy, and science fiction into a propulsive thriller that is as funny as it is frightening, clever as it is uncanny, tender as it is terrifying. A magical ride."

In the Company of Killers (2021)
Bryan Christy
"An inside look at a high-stakes world that will appeal to fans of classic international intrigue as well as those craving a more modern take on the geopolitical thriller. An adventure story for the thinking man."

The Drowning Kind (2021)
Jennifer McMahon
"Past and present, the real and the imaginary intertwine like ribbons on a maypole in this beautifully haunting story of familial love and loss. For those who crave magic in their everyday lives, Jennifer McMahon will make you believe."

The Lost Village (2021)
Camilla Sten
"THE LOST VILLAGE draws you in with its spooky premise--the disappearance of an entire town--but great atmospherics and unexpected twists keep you turning the pages. For fans of haunted reality TV shows, Scandinavian thrillers, and all things relentlessly creepy."

Dangerous Women (2021)
Hope Adams
"A perfect recreation of a unique moment in time. An examination of the shocking treatment of women in our not-too distant past. Hope Adams' Dangerous Women is a must-read for lovers of fearless historical fiction."

Wonderland (2020)
Zoje Stage
"Wonderland shows the terror lurking below the surface of domestic bliss, when we realize our familiar and cozy world may not be as it seems. Zoje Stage is one of the few writers who can make the supernatural feel totally, dangerously real."

A Witch in Time (2020)
Constance Sayers
"A sweeping story of magical, star-crossed love, as glamorous as it is romantic. Prepare to be dazzled."

The Only Child (2020)
Mi-Ae Seo
"For fans of Mindhunter, Mi-Ae Seo’s novel The Only Child feels like true crime but is a tour de force of twisty fiction with a shocking ending you won’t be able to stop thinking about. Family secrets abound in this fine novel of psychological suspense."

Eden (2020)
Tim Lebbon
"Tim Lebbon gives us a near-future as terrifying as it is exhilarating, and—most frightening of all—irresistibly beautiful. Surrender to Eden."

The Chill (2020)
Scott Carson
"Scott Carson's THE CHILL may be the perfect thriller. Great characters. Creeping dread and explosive reveals. Pacing that never lets up. Maybe some of the best conversation with the dead since Stephen King's THE SHINING."

The Other People (2020)
C J Tudor
"The Other People is tight as a straitjacket, diabolically clever, and propulsive as a roller coaster. If you like twisty thrillers that leave you guessing till the very last page, this is a must-read."

Lullabies For Suffering (2020)
Kealan Patrick Burke, Caroline Kepnes and Mark Matthews
"The stories in Lullabies for Suffering are the real deal, a plunge into agony and the ecstasy, the inescapable nightmare of addiction."

Inspection (2019)
Josh Malerman
"Inspection proves that Josh Malerman is a master magician of narrative form. He’s distilled the zeitgeist of our terrible times into this dazzling chameleon of a story, part Grimm’s fairy tale of innocent youth, part dystopian gender politics, and authoritarianism run amok, with a satisfying Tarantino-esque ending."

More recommendations

Anthologies containing stories by Alma Katsu

Roots of My Fears (2025)
edited by
Gemma Amor

Christmas and Other Horrors (2023)
edited by
Ellen Datlow

Other Terrors (2022)
An Inclusive Anthology
edited by
Vince A Liaguno and Rena Mason

More anthologies

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